UK Universities’ 6G wireless research capacity is in excellent shape, says new UK SPF report
- Industry sounding board UK Spectrum Policy Forum (SPF) submits new report to DCMS Minister Julia Lopez MP on a set of recommendations to drive the development of 6G
- Digital Minister Julia Lopez MP welcomes new UK SPF 6G report
Today the UK Spectrum Policy Forum (SPF) has submitted a new 6G research report ‘SPF 6G wireless R&D initiative: A report for DCMS’.
The report was commissioned by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) and provides Julia Lopez MP, Minister of State at DCMS, with:
- An audit of the range of 6G research projects currently underway in UK universities
- A report and set of recommendations on how the Government should support and influence the development of 6G, through driving collaboration on 6G research
- Insight on how different spectrum bands will shape future 6G wireless opportunities
- A wide range of informed views from an open public consultation, with responses from industry and academia.
The University of Bristol, University of Surrey, and the University of Strathclyde worked with UK SPF to host three events, bringing together 25 UK universities to identify 6G research projects and assess their scope to contribute to the development of 6G technology and networks. These events attracted over 800 attendees from academia, industry, and government bodies from the UK and abroad.
The workshops and recommendations were guided by an expert panel, including representatives from academia and industry.
The recommendations focus on how the government can mobilise the UK’s established research resources to position the UK to play a significant role in the global development of 6G. The report calls for government to incorporate the recommendations in a 6G national strategy.
Welcoming the report, Julia Lopez MP, Minister of State for Media, Data, and Digital Infrastructure, says:
We're spending £700 million to improve 4G coverage and develop new ways for 5G to benefit society. But 6G is already on the horizon, and through our new Wireless Infrastructure Strategy we want to put the UK at the forefront of this advanced technology. I thank the Forum for its report. It highlights the fantastic work being done by our world-leading research institutions and provides some helpful recommendations which we will carefully consider.
Abhaya Sumanasena, Steering Board Chair, UK SPF and expert panel member comments:
As the industry voice of spectrum users in the UK, the SPF is extremely proud to have successfully facilitated this University led 6G initiative. This initiative is an important step in identifying how the wireless research community can contribute to help address long-term spectrum policy issues and sets a foundation for a collaboration framework that brings the University research base closer to industry, government and spectrum policymakers. We look forward to taking this further to help policymakers solve strategic spectrum policy issues in the years to come.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
Participants to the Expert Panel include:
|
Name |
Designation |
Organisation |
|
Mark Beach |
Professor and Prosperity Partnership Lead |
University of Bristol |
|
Rahim Tafazolli |
Professor and Director 5G/6GIC |
University of Surrey |
|
Bob Stewart (Chair) |
Professor and Lead of Strath 5G Cluster |
University of Strathclyde |
|
James Dracott |
Head of ICT |
EPSRC |
|
JF Fava-Verde |
Innovation Lead (Digital) |
InnovateUK - UKRI |
|
Dave Townend |
Wireless Research Manager |
British Telecom |
|
David Lister |
Senior R&D Manager |
Vodafone |
|
Raj Sivalingam |
Head of Spectrum |
DCMS |
|
Adam Beaumont |
Chair aql group; Chair Northinvest |
UK Entrepreneur |
|
Abhaya Sumanasena |
Chair of the SPF Steering Board Head of Spectrum and Regulation |
UK SPF and Real Wireless |
|
Luigi Ardito |
Vice-Chair SPF Steering Board and Senior Director, Government Affairs Europe |
UK SPF and Qualcomm Europe |
|
John Haine |
Consultant |
IoT Security Foundation |
|
Ex Officio: |
|
|
|
Jo O'Riordan |
Head of Spectrum Policy and Telecoms |
UK SPF and techUK |
|
Stephen Temple |
Chair, Cluster 2: Long Term Spectrum Policy |
UK SPF |
Please log in to access the report and the letter to the Minister, it is free to do so.
Media contacts: Margherita Certo, E: [email protected], M: 07462107214
About the UK SPF
Set up at the request of the government and Ofcom the Spectrum Policy Forum (SPF) act as a pro-active industry-led ‘sounding board’ to UK Government and Ofcom on future policy and approaches on the spectrum and a cross-industry ‘agent’ for promoting the role of spectrum in society and the maximisation of its economic and social value to the UK. We do this by exchanging news and views on developments in using spectrum, drawing on our industry expertise from around the world
Please contact the below Secretariat Team for more information:
Tales Gaspar
Tales Gaspar
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 (0) 0207 331 2000
- Website:
- www.techUK.org
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/talesngaspar
Jaynesh Patel
Jaynesh Patel
Jaynesh Patel is Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, leading the Communications Infrastructure and Services Programme at techUK and overseeing the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Jaynesh has extensive experience in the sector, having worked for CityFibre (a full fibre broadband company) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) on digital infrastructure policy. Most recently Jaynesh led on policy and public affairs in the UK and Ireland for ChargePoint (an EV charging network).
Prior to this Jaynesh worked in the Cabinet Office for more than five years, including over two years at the Government Digital Service (GDS) supporting the digital transformation of UK Government.
Jaynesh has a BSc (Hons) in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE).
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayneshpatel/
Sophie Greaves
Sophie Greaves
Sophie Greaves is Head of Programme for Communications Infrastructure and Services at techUK, and oversees the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Sophie was promoted to Head having been Programme Manager for Communications Infrastructure and Services, leading techUK's telecoms activities, engagement and policy development. Previously, Sophie was Programme Assistant across a variety of areas including the Broadband Stakeholder Group, Central Government, Financial Services and Communications Infrastructure programmes.
Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2038
- Twitter:
- @SJMJames1
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/
Matthew Wild
Matthew Wild
Matthew joined techUK in August 2023 as a Programme Assistant.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2000